We all experience it in December. The decorations that line storefronts, the holiday ads, the videos insisting it’s the “most wonderful time of the year.” But the expectation of constant joy often feels far removed from what many students actually experience in school. The short stretch between Thanksgiving and winter break is often one of the most stressful times of year for students. It can seem like everyone has stepped into a month-long commercial for joy, yet many students feel stress over finals, exhaustion and even isolation.
Still, there’s an unspoken expectation that you should be cheerful anyway. Anything other than joy feels like you’re navigating the month wrong. The pressure to perform holiday cheer is subtle but powerful. When classmates talk excitedly about Secret Santa or winter celebrations, it can feel like there’s no space to say you’re stressed or overwhelmed. Students quietly force a smile, even when they’re barely keeping up. And because everyone looks festive, it’s easy to believe you’re the only one struggling, even though that’s rarely the case.
Finals stack up waiting to be completed, sports teams add practices as the season grows tougher and many students are just barely keeping up with the amount of intense work. Forced cheer doesn’t bring people together; it isolates us at the exact moment where we most need connection. Rather than pretending that everything is festive, we should be checking in on each other and making room for the stress that’s already there.
About 41% of U.S. adults say their stress increases during the holidays, according to the American Psychological Association — a reminder that this pressure isn’t just something students feel but a widespread experience. Instead of masking stress by pretending everything is festive, we can make the season easier by being honest about how we are doing. Opening up doesn’t ruin the mood; it often helps others feel less alone and makes the joyful moments feel more authentic.
Joy only carries meaning when it isn’t forced. When we make room for the parts of December that are complicated or tiring, the joyful moments feel more genuine. The holiday season doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. It can be a time of connection, honesty and support instead of pressure and performance.
It’s OK to not be festive 24/7, and it’s OK to feel stressed during the holiday season. When we stop pretending and start being honest, we make it easier for everyone to get through the season feeling truly more joyful and understood, rather than alone.
